Washington, Jan.22 (ANI): Hillary Clinton was confirmed by the U.S.
Senate as the next secretary of state Wednesday by a vote of 94-2,
after questions about her husband Bill Clinton''s foundation
sidetracked her nomination for a day.

A number of senators said before the vote that Clinton, who traveled
and met with foreign dignitaries around the world during her time as
First Lady, is uniquely qualified for the job.
 
Senator David
Vitter (R-La.) and Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) voted against Clinton.
She was sworn in at 5:29 p.m. ET, and immediately afterward resigned
from the Senate.

President Obama’s press secretary Robert Gibbs said Clinton, as the
new secretary of state, would attend the White House meeting on Iraq
Wednesday afternoon.
 
Sen. John Kerry, Chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee which held Clinton''s hearing, showed some
disappointment that the Senate did not act on her nomination on
Tuesday, the day Obama was sworn into office. Six other Cabinet
appointees were confirmed on Inauguration Day.
 
Clinton''s
confirmation was delayed until Wednesday over the objections from one
senator, Texas Republican John Cornyn. He had concerns about foreign
donations made to former President Bill Clinton''s foundation.

But Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) said on the floor that he had
talked to Cornyn and that Cornyn had no objections to a vote Wednesday.

Cornyn spoke with Clinton Tuesday at the Capitol and said the former
first lady agreed to more regular disclosure of her husband''s
foundation donations, provided the requirement does not only apply to
the Clintons. (ANI)